Many Indians face problems when they meet the local police
for verification of residential address for a passport renewal or to complain
about an accident, etc. The police often tell them to sign a document in the regional language. Many countries in the world have their documents in two
languages. The US, which has English as its majority language, has its
documents in English and Spanish. Should the higher courts not rule that every
form used in law and order in India should be in the regional language as well as in the
national language?
States of India should recognize that inconveniencing
Indians who do not know their regional language is not improving their ease of doing
business index. They are cutting their nose to spite their own face! Wooing global
investors to invest in their states and acting jingoistically is
counterproductive.
Srinivasan Ramani
